Trump urges Florida official to run in special election to fill Gaetz's seat

President-elect Trump urged Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis to run in the special election for former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R) seat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District on Monday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called Patronis “a wonderful friend to me and to MAGA.”

“As your next Congressman, Jimmy would work tirelessly alongside of me to grow our economy, secure our border, stop migrant crime, strengthen our incredible military/vets, restore American energy DOMINANCE, and defend our always under siege Second Amendment,” Trump wrote.

“Should he decide to enter this Race, Jimmy Patronis has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, JIMMY, RUN!” he added.

"Put me to work, Mr. President!" Patronis replied in a post on social platform X. "I am here to serve."

Last week, Patronis confirmed in a post on X that he was mulling a run for Gaetz’s seat.

“I am strongly considering running for Florida Congressional District 1,” Patronis wrote on the platform. “We’ve got an historic opportunity to fight the swamp, end lawfare and return power back into the hands of Americans.”

As Florida's chief financial officer, Patronis also serves in the Florida Cabinet. Patronis holds the role of state fire marshal and previously served in Florida's House of Representatives.

On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) formally set dates for the seat’s special election, with the primary set to take place Jan. 28 and the general election to take place April 1.

The congressional district is one of the most conservative in the state. Gaetz sailed to reelection earlier this month, carrying 66 percent of the vote.

The heavy conservative lean of the district will likely lead to a hotly contested Republican primary in January. A number of candidates, including state Reps. Michelle Salzman (R) and Joel Rudman (R), as well as former U.S. Army Capt. John Frankman, have thrown their names into the race.

Gaetz resigned from his seat in the 118th Congress after Trump nominated him to be his attorney general. Gaetz said Thursday that he was taking himself out of consideration in the face of growing backlash over past investigations into sexual misconduct allegations against him.

Updated at 1:27 p.m. EST